Wall structure with interlocked blocks



Feb. 23, 1965 INVENTOR. MORTON M. ROSENFEEB ATTORNEY? 3 24 and 26. The annular area between the inner peripheral surface of the holes 24, 26 and 28 and the outer periphery of the rod-like members 30 may be iilled with mortar.

The first course 16 of blocks 18 will be interconnected 'with the floor 12 bythe layer of mortar 14. Also, the blocks 18 in the first course 16 will be interconnected with each other by a layer of mortar between juxtaposed fend faces of the blocks. In order to interconnect sucfcessive courses of blocks 18, rod-like members 32 are reinforcing the wall structure 10. The rod-like members Sprovided. As shown more clearly in FIGURE 4, the

rod-like members 32 are provided with a bulbous or spherical portion 34 at a point substantially equidistant from each end. The spherical portion 34 is provided with a notch 36 extending in a` direction parallel to the v longitudinal axis of the rod-like member 32 and a stripe l 38 therearound The width ofthe stripe 38'will act as a guide to designatethe thickness of the layer of mortar between successive courses. A connector member 40 extends between the rod-like members 32 whichare dis-v posed on opposite sidesof juxtaposed end faces of blocks '18 in a single course.V The-connector member 40 has its ends received in the slot 36 in each spherical portion34.

The spherical portion 34 is provided with dimensions fslightly smaller than the circle formed by the Ajuxtaposed :semicircular grooves 20 and 22. VThe connector member '40 will likewise have dimensions-so that it! may be disposed within the circle-formed by said more clearly in FIGURE 3.V l

The remaining elements of the wall structure are more readily explained in conjunction with the Vdescription of the manner in which the wall 10 is constructed as lset forth hereinafter. V

In order to construct the wall structure 10, the oor 12 will be provided with a line of holes 28 which are equidistant from each other. The provision of the holes .28 may be eliminated `if it is not deemed necessary to,

.mechanically lock the wall structure y10 to the floor 12. .Assuming that the provision of the holes 28 is desirable, the next step is to insertthe rod-like members 30 into the holes 28. Thereafter, the rst layer of mortar 14 is provided on the floor 12.

grooves as shown Y facilitate sighting of one block with respect to adjacent blocks to assure proper alignment. The ends of the members 32 will be located at a point substantially equidistant from top and bottom faces on superimposed blocks of two different courses.

The connector member 40 interconnects adjacent rodlike members 32 acrossthe juxtaposed end facesof blocks in the same course. In this manner, a rigid lattice work is provided by the members 32 and 40 which strengthens the wall structure and facilitates the rapid construction of a wall.r Since the stripe 38 designates the thickness of the layer of mortar between adjacent courses, and since the blocks of the various courses will be interconnected and orientated with respect to each other, a wall structure may be constructed in a more rapid manner byy a man who is unskilled in the art of masonry. Y

' If desired, the grooves'Zt) and 22 on the blocks 18 and the spherical portion 34 on the members 32 may be eliminated. Y In'this casethe' connecting member would `be a vflat strip '40", see FIGURES, having a'hole adjacent each end through which the member `32fwould extend. The thickness offstrip .40may be equal to or less than y the thickness of the layer of mortar, if any, betweenthe 25 vless than the widthof the blocks. It will be appreciated that the members 40 and strips 40f may be interconnected with any of the members 32 if desired. K l

In FIGURE 6, there is shown another embodiment of the present invention designated generally as 10. The

wall structure 16 is identical with the wall structure 10 entated with the blocks thereabove and ,adjacent thereto inthe same course by means'of a connecting member 50.

The connectingmember has'a length which is not less The next step in the construction of the wall structure 10 is the laying of ythe rst course 1630i the blocks 18.

The blocks 1S will be4 positioned so that the Arod-like members 30 enter the various holes 24 and 26. After the iirst course 1610iV the blocks 18 has been properly laid,

a rod-like member-32 isl inserted in each of the holes 245'."`

-and 26. `Due to irregularities'ofthe blocks, the spar:-l .ingbetween the ends ofthe rod-like members 32 and the rod-like members 30 will vary.

The rod-likemembers will be disposed in a manner so that the slots 36 in thespherical portion 34 of each'memi ber 32 will be facing the adjacent end face of its respective block. .Then a connector member 40'will be positioned `in theV groove 20 across the juxtaposed end'faces of adjacent end blocks in the course 16.".The`e`nds of than thelength of one of the blocks 18'. -As illustrated, the connecting member 50`hasva' length corresponding to the length of two blocks 18. The member 50 is provided with rod-like membersV or pins 52 extending therefrom in opposite directions at spaced points therealong.

, The pins 52 are integral with the member 50.

The distance between adjacent pins 52 corresponds with the'distance 'between the holes 24 and-26 in the blocks 18. As illustrated,` the'connecting member 50 is provided with eight (8) pins 52. Thus, the connecting member 50 interconnects veY (5) of the blocks 18 in the first and second courses. The length of the connecting member 50 maybe increased if desired sofas to interconnect a larger number of blocks. As illustrated in FIGURE6, the connecting member 50 has'a thickness corresponding tothe thickness of the mortar between the first` and second courses. be provided withy grooveson their upper and lower sur- Thus, the blocks 18 need not faces. However-,such grooves may be provided if it is desired to use a` rod-like member having a thickness greater thanth'e thickness of the layer of mortar between the connector member 4t) willbe disposed within thei;v

.slots 36. Thereafter, the second layerof mortar 42umay be vprovidedover the'rst-course 16 of-blocks 18. The thickness of the layer 'ofniortar 42 may be gauged by lAs each block isput inposition while forming thejcourse 44, the blocks are, located -in a 'manner so that the upper' `'the rst and second courses. ber 454, identical with member 50, 'will be utilized to Another connecting mem j Vinterconnectrand orientate the next five (5) blocks of the 'first and second courses. Thus, the wall 10Will utilize lthe width ofthe stripe 38 on each lof the spherical por- -wall 10 because Vof* theV integral nature of-fthe" me'1nb'er` avpluralityof connecting members, such as member 50,v to interconnect andl orientate adjacent successive' courses.

The wall-I6 may beconstrnctedmore rapidly than the 'i S0 and pins 52. Y

In constructing the* wall-1:0', it is. Vprefera'bleftof` utilize 'n Itwo sizes ofthe members 5,0. In this manner`,- th`e juxtaend of the rod-like members l32 enters-the holes 24 andi;

' 26. .Y Thereafter, the layer of mortar 46- and course 48 of blocks 18 are provided in the' manner described above until the walllstructure 10 has the desired height.V

The rod-like members 32 interconnect the various courses which are disposed one above the other thereby j orientating'the various blocksin thecou'rses as well as other.l This maybe readily accomplished by having the lengthof member 54 correspondlto 4the length of'three (3) of the blocks 18. i f

posed ends of the members 50 will notfbe one Vabove the In each of" the embodiments the'present invention,

areilnforc'ed wall structure is provided with blocks being 5 L interconnected and orientated with respect to anV adjacent block in the same course as well as blocks in the course above and therebelow. In each of the embodiments of the present invention, the rod-like members may be made from wood, plastic,- etc. but are preferably made from metal. v 1

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be members within aligned holes in blocks 0f adjacent successive courses, said members having ends terminating at a point within said blocks, spherical spacer means intermediate the ends of said members for seating in contacting engagement with the sides of a channel formed by juxtaposition of a groove on a top surface of one block and a groove on the bottom surfaces of the blocks thereabove, a notch formed in each said spacer means,

said notch extending in a direction parallel toV the 1ongi tudinal axis of the rod-like members, and vconnecting members extending between and interconnected with adjacent ones of said rod-like members, the ends of said connecting members being Yreceived in said notches formed block within the plane defined by said grooves, rod-like in saidspacer means, said connecting members also being disposed within said channel.

2. A wall structure in accordance with claim 1 wherein a layer of mortar is provided betwen adjacent successive courses of blocks, and indicia means on said spacer means for designating the desired thickness of the layer of mortar between adjacent successive courses.

References Cited by the Examiner v UNITED STATES PATENTS 479,010 7/92 Mohle 50-443 555,693 3/96A Geraerdts 50--371X` 1,078,273 11/13 Geraerdts 50---372 f 1,106,584 8/14 Robbins 50-443 X 1,222,174 4/17 VBallmer 50-163 1,882,432 10/ 32 Lemerond 50p-443 X 1,945,474 1/'34 Baldwin 50-372 2,141,397 12/38 Locke 50-443l X 2,261,510 11/41 Atcheson 50-479 3,036,407 5/62 4Dixon S04-443 FOREIGN PATENTS 497,627 12/ 19 France. 427,980 12/47 Italy.

BENjAMIN BENDETT, Primary Examiner.,

WILLIAM I.l MUSHAKE, JACOB L. NACKENOFF,

l Examiners. 

1. A WALL STRUCTURE COMPRISING A WALL FORMED FROM A PLURALITY OF BLOCKS, A GROOVE EXTENDING ALONG THE TOP AND BOTTOM FACE OF EACH BLOCK, A PAIR OF SPACED HOLES IN EACH BLOCK WITHIN THE PLANE DEFINED BY SAID GROOVES, ROD-LIKE MEMBERS WITHIN ALIGNED HOLES IN BLOCKS OF ADJACENT SUCCESSIVE COURSES, SAID MEMBERS HAVING ENDS TERMINATING AT A POINT WITHIN SAID BLOCKS, SPHERICAL SPACER MEANS INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS OF SAID MEMBERS FOR SEATING IN CONTACTING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SIDES OF A CHANNEL FORMED BY JUXTAPOSITION OF A GROOVE ON A TOP SURFACE OF ONE BLOCK AND A GROOVE ON THE BOTTOM SURFACES OF THE BLOCKS THEREABOVE, A NOTCH FORMED IN EACH SAID SPACER MEANS, SAID NOTCH EXTENDING IN A DIRECTION PARALLEL TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE ROD-LIKE MEMBERS, AND CONNECTING MEMBERS EXTENDING BETWEEN AND INTERCONNECTED WITH ADJACENT ONES OF SAID ROD-LIKE MEMBERS, THE ENDS OF SAID CONNECTING MEMBERS BEING RECEIVED IN SAID NOTCHES FORMED IN SAID SPACER MEANS, SAID CONNECTING MEMBERS ALSO BEING DISPOSED WITHIN SAID CHANNEL.
 2. A WALL STRUCTURE IN ACCORDANCE WITH CLAIM 1 WHEREIN A LAYER OF MORTAR IS PROVIDED BETWEEN ADJACENT SUCCESSIVE COURSES OF BLOCKS, AND INDICIA MEANS ON SAID SPACER MEANS FOR DESIGNATING THE DESIRED THICKNESS OF THE LAYER OF MORTAR BETWEEN ADJACENT SUCCESSIVE COURSES. 